Means for maintaining and conveying cartons



June 15, 1948. s. BERGsTElN ErAL 2,443,293

MEANS FOR MAINTAINING AND CONVEYING QARTONS Filed Juiy 13, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 1 m. 4 O M m I 4 fmz c o 6 w I4 I3 11 JZ n ibi June l5, 1948. s, BERGSTEIN E |A| 2,443,293

MEANS FOR MAINTAINING AND CONVEYING CARTONS Fled July 13, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENT OR.

NSAMUEL .BL-mes rc1/v BY [ow VA/v'us/.PE/v.

TToRNEYS.

June 15, 1948. s. BERGSTEIN ETAL 2,443,293

MEANS FOR MAINTAINING AND CONVEYING GARTONS Filed July 13, 1942 5 sheets-sheet s m O I* Jaa h INVENTORB.

Sanc/fz. BERG-srfl/v 'u il' weakqfae TTORNEYS.

S. BERGSTEIN ET AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June l5, 1948.

MEANS FOR MAINTAINING AND GONVEYING CARTONS Filed July 13, 1942 M l T R QN .SNN m3 N n n BJ TM M W QN of *i .Ul .n.1 @www !mw N Mun... NQN. lll NQN\. @4 s .s HIP. NNN QN QN... mm.. NQ www. ww.. lw n N L .QN NNN. wm. SQ .l H Ulv f. l N\.\\\\\\\ Nm. NNN AI .wmbdww www@ QN NNN NNN@ WNQNN NN um Jun l5, 1948. s. BERGsTElN Erm. 2,443,293

MEANS FOR MAINTAINING AND CONVEYING CARTONS Filed July 13, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIGJ 5,

INVENTORS. S'Auuf-L Brees-ran BY qwau/s J ,afvunpfm ATTORNEYS,

but showing the parts in an extremely open posi- Patented June 15, 1948 ICE MEANS FR MAINTAINING AND CONVEYWG CARTONS Samuel Bergstein, Cincinnati, and Louis J. Van

Guelpen, Middletown, Ohio, assignors to Robcrt Morris Bergstein and Frank David Bergstein, trustees Application July 13, 1942, Serial No. 450,704

14 Claims. (Cl. 198-179) In Bergstein Patent No. 2,206,761 issued July 2, 1940, there areA disclosed machines and methods for package closure particularly in relation to closing the extending liner mouth and end aps of lined containers. In our Patent No. 2.277.289 we have disclosed improved means and methods relating to this same general field. Our present invention relates to machines and methods for affecting package closures on containers similar A to those involved in the aforesaid patents; and

our present invention is particularly adapted to the carrying out of the process disclosed in Bergstein Patent No. 2,166,389 issued July 18, 1939.

The object of our invention is to provide a novel and improved method and means for retaining lined or unlined cartons in erect form while sealing or closure operations are being performed thereon. One of the advantages of our novel retaining means is the positioning of the package retaining lingers in open position to permit ready insertion of the package without the need for accurate register. Our invention further provides for automatic closure of said iingers, occasioned by the insertion of the package itself, accurate control of the package body during the various sealing operations, and automatic ejection of the container at its desired station upon completion of the sealing operations.

'I'hese general objects and others which will be apparent as the description proceeds, we accomplish by those mechanisms, methods and structures, and by the arrangements and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described in certain exemplary embodiments, and particularly defined in the claims at the end of these specifications.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side `elevation of a packaging machine similar to that described in our Patent No. 2,277,289, but with parts broken away and other parts in section and showing certain improvements to be herein described.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line-33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a carton carrying device having further improved features and advantages and showing also a 4simplified and improved means for spreading or elongating the carton liners, said spreading device being integrally associated with the carton carrier.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4,showing the position of the carton retainer parts in closed position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the parts in an intermediate or neutral position preparatory to insertion of a carton.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figures 5 and 6,

tion as willoccur during ejection of a carton from the machine.

Figure 8 is a. side elevation showing apackaging machine employing the improvedcarton carriers and 'liner spreading devices of Figure 4. The gure'is fragmentary in character with parts broken away and other parts in section and with various support members for the folding and sealing elements omitted so as to more clearly to illustrate certain features of our invention.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along the line III-I0 of Figure 8, the

lower end of an initially squared up carton being shown so as to illustrate how a carton is received in the cage for initial closure.

Figures 11 and 12 are detail plan views of certain cam plates which control ejection of the cartons from the cages of Figure 4.

Figure 13 is a vertical section taken along the line I3--I3 of Figure 9, illustrating operation of improved ejecting and segregating mechanism when electing a finally filled and sealed carton from the machine. I

Figure 14 is a section similar to Figure 13, but illustrating an alternate position of the parts as will occur during ejection of an initially set up or empty carton.

Referring to the machine of Figures 1 and 2, we have illustrated an embodiment similar to that described in our Patent No. 2,277,289 before mentioned, the present embodiment incorporating improved features to be hereinafter set forth.

As in the aforementioned patent, the machine has a frame member Iproviding journaled bearings for the shafts of a pair Of Sprockets 2 and 3, over which the conveyor chain 4 operates in a horizontal flight. The driving power is supplied through sprocket 2, which is driven by a motor 5 operating through suitable drive means generally indicated at 6. The chain 4 carries a series of interspaced carriage members 1 which are guided in proper alignment about the conveyor path by suitable channeled guide members generally indicated at 8.

Referring to Figure 3, the members 1 are each furnished with a stud 9 which provides a rotatable mounting for a gear I0 and a square plate Il which is fixed to the gear, both being rotatably mounted on the stud, with respect to the carriage. The pivoted members I0 and II form a turret mounting for the carton carrying devices.

l seen'in Figure 1, the mandrels I3 may be supplanted or replaced where desired by carrying devices or cages generally indicated at Il and to' be later described in detail.

During passage of' the conveyor members about the path ofthe machine, as` indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, the inner sides or edges of y the turret vplates have sliding engagement against guide rails or bars arranged to prevent rotation of the turrets. Starting at the point or station A of Figure 2, the carrying devices will be conveyed to the left, being locked against rotation during travel by the rail I5. After passing about the sprocket 3 the plates are again engaged by-a guide rail |6- which terminates at the position of a short rack I1 mounted on the machine frame, and arranged to mesh with the gears I as they'pass by it. Thus these racks produce a rotation of the turret assemblies through, say, 90, changing'the orientation of the cartons with respect to their direction of travel. After passing the rack I1, the turrets are again locked against rotation by the rail i8. Thereafter, and in their further course of travel, the racks I9, 20 and 2| each function to turn the turrets through additional quarter revolutions in the manner just described, while the rails 22, 23

and 24 serve to prevent undesired rotation during intervening travel. When they have reached station K, Where the cartons A'will be ejected, the turrets will thus have been turned through a complete revolution, and the cages or mandrels will have returned to their original relationship to the directionoftravel as at station A, and

the need for spacing or timing on the machine is eliminated. With this arrangement, any number of carton holding devices can be used, spaced any distance apart, because they are self-timing in their spreading functions as they travel about the machine while the remainder of the instrumentalities may be fixed elements. This permits much higher production and greatly simplifies the mechanism.

It is further to be pointed out that this same general arrangement of integral spreaders and carton holding means could be used to fold in the two inner carton flaps instead .of spreading the liner mouth and/or -folding the flaps outward and apart. v

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, an improved carton holder or cage is here shown, and com-V prises'l a pair of standards |I0 and III which serve to support an upper assembly including a pair of arms generallyindicated at |I2, which will again be in proper position to receive anfolding of the closure members on one end, e. g.

the bottom. The cages I4 serve to carry the cartons which have already been closed on one end, and which will have been iled, through operations for the final closure of the package, e. g.

2, alternate the sealing and folding of the top members after v insertion of the contents. It will thus be apparent that the machine shown may serve the dual purpose of initially setting up the containers preparatory to filling and of finally sealing and closing them after they have beenfllle'd. It will also be seen later that either of these operations may be performed singly or that both may be carried out simultaneously in the machine, the sealing and folding mechanism provided being adapted lower assembly of like partsy indicated at |I3 for grasping the carton nearits lower end. Both of the assemblies may be identical Iexcepting that the lower one carries a platform or bottom gaugeA member H4 which supports the carton in proper relation to the sealing and folding devices. Cages or holders as distinguished from mandrels may be employed .both in eifecting'bottom closures of unfilled cartons and in effecting top closures of filled cartons. s

Figure 5 shows' the closed position of the lower 'pair of cage members or arms IIS and ||1, a

carton retained therein being indicated by the broken lines II5. 'I'he arms are of a bell crank formation, each having a short forwardly -extending portion IIB'with an inwardly bentouter end or linger I I9 to engage th'e carton as shown. The arm I I1 is pivotally mounted on the standard III as at |20 and ha's an angularly related longer arm I2I, extending rearwardly, and with a slot formation |22 slidably engaging a stud |23, the

v stud being xed at itsv lowerlend in the rearwardly extending arm |24 of member 8, which member is pivoted at |25 4to the standard |I0. By the stud and slot arrangement described, lit will `be apparent that movement of the arms about their pivoted mountings l|2I| and |25 will occur in opposite relation, and that the arms may octo seal andfold either end of the package, and

an` ejection mechanism, to be later described, being provided to segregate the filled from the unfilled containers at the point of ejection.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, we have shown further improvements in carton carrying devices and-also in means for spreading and elongating the liners, said means for spreading and eiongat.

ing the liners being integrally associated with the carton carrier. As here shown, the carton carrier comprises a cagelike device generally indicated at |00, the spreading means IOI being supported thereabove by a suitable bracket |02.

It is to be pointed out that the spreading device provides automatic and assured registering of the fingers to the carton, because, since the spreaders are carried in fixed relation to the carton holding means, the lingers will always be in proper aligned position in relation to the liner,

in contradistinction to the machine of Figure 1 vWhere the spreaders, moving separately, have to be timed as to their travel in relation to the travel of the carton. By making the spreaders an integral part of the carton holding means,

cupy positions as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

IFor controllingy .the positions of the arms, the stud |23 is engaged by a link |26 which at its other end carries a cam roller |21 and is pivotally attached, as at |21a, to a lever 28 and to abracket I28a onarod |29.' -Y

The lever |28 is pivotally attached as at |28a to a bracket |30 xed on the standard I|0 and has a downwardly extending stud I3 I. The bracket |30 has an adjustable abutment or screw |32 for limiting the movement of the lever. Near its outer end, the rod |29 is slidably mounted in a stud I 33, pivoted to a bracket I 34 carried on the standard I I I. Mounted upon the rod |29, a compression spring |35 unges .the parts to the position of Figure 5, the spring bearing -at one end against the bracket |23a and at its other end against the body |36 of a, latch element through which the rod |29 slidably passes. The body of the latch element may be nxed to the stud |33 so as .to form an integral part thereof, or as shown may be a, separate piece held in proper operative relation by theaction of the spring |35 holding it against the stud |33.

For retaining lthe parts in the neutral position (Figure 6) the rod |29 has a notch |31 which will `ton, indicated at II5, into the cage.

be engaged by a tooth |38 of the latch, as shown. The tooth |38, formed in an element |39 which is pivotally mounted in the latch body |36 as at |40, is urged to engage the notch by a suitable spring |4|. The relation of the notch |31 and tooth |38 is such that positive locking of the members in the position of Figure 6 will not occur, but the latch will become disengaged permitting the spring |35 to return the parts to the position of Figure 5 when sumcient inward pressure is applied against the arms |2| and |24, as will occur when the operator places a car- Thus a trigger action is established in the change of positions between Figures 6 and 5 and when, during the course of its travel in openposition, the operator inserts a carton, the lingers of the cage automatically snap closed on it, holding it securely in position. The trigger action, being controlled by the introduction of the package itself, automatically closes the cage at the precise moment required, and vmechanical means for closing are rendered unnecessary.

With the carton retained in the cage as in Figure 5 it will be carried through the machine during the sealing and closing operations. At the point 'of ejection, the members of the cage will be moved to the position of Figure 'l by the action of stationary cams to be later described. Movement of the members to this position will cause the carton to be pushed outward from the machine by the arms |2| and |24 which will assume the position shown to remove the carton from the arms |I6 andA II1. If the change of position occurs rapidly, the carton will acquire momentum sufficient to transfer it to an adjacent platform or conveyor for-disposal as required.

From an examination of Figure 7, it will become apparent that the spring |35 will tend to hold the parts in the position shown, due to the fact that the thrust of the spring is past center with reference to a line intersecting the pivoted mountings of lever |28 and rod |20. For returning the parts to the posi-tion of Figure 6, so that another carton may be loaded into the device, the downwardly extending stud |3| carried on lever 28 will be engaged by a suitable cam track to be later disclosed.

While the foregoing description has related to the lower assembly of arms and fingers generally indicated at II3 in Figure 4, it will be understood that the upper assembly generally indicated atl I2 in that figure may be identical in construction and operation. However, it will be apparent-that the assemblies may be individually controlled. This feature is employed to our advantage in the operations of ejecting the cartons from the machine, for which ejection we have provided cam 4elements to be later described, which engage the rollers |21 and are arranged to operate the upper assembly ||2 slightly ahead of the lower assembly ||3 or vice versa depending on whether the particular cage involved carries a finally filled and closed container or a container which is empty and on which only the initial closing of the ultimate bottom has been performed, the mode of ejection being part of a segregating operation and mechanism to be presently described.

With the arrangement herein disclosed, the cage of Figure 4 is adapted for car-rying cartons during initial closure, the pair of rollers |21 being located so as to be engaged and operated by upper and lower cam plates respectively shown at |42 and |43 in Figure 14. However, and for the cages' which are ,to carry the finally filled and closed containers, the rollers |21 on alternate occurrences of the cages may be placed or arranged in planes not coinciding with the cam plates |42 and |43. This is illustrated in Figure 13 where the rollers |21 have been replaced by upper and lower rollers |44 arranged in planes coincident with cam plates |45 and |46. vBy this arrangement alternate occurrences of the cages and the ejection of the containers therefrom will be individually controlled, that is, the cam plates |42 and |43 will control ejection of the initially closed or empty containers, and the cam plates |45 and |46 will control ejection of the inally closed containers, the cages having the cam rollers located as at |21 serving to carry the cartons during initial closure and the cages having the cam rollers located as at |44 serving to carry the cartons during final closure. The cages for filled or unnlled cartons may be alternately arranged, and if desired, may be visually distinguished, as by color.

Figures 13 and 14 also show an improved segregating device which is synchronized with the ejection mechanism to determine disposal of the cartons. The device comprises a chute having a wide opening or mouth l5| located in close proximity to the line of carton travel, the chute being divided at its lower end into a pair of channels |52 and |53, and having an oscillating shutter, switch or guide member |54 pivotally mounted on a shaft |55. The shaft I 55 has fixed thereto a lever |56 which, through link |51 and lever |58, is operated by a cam |59 bearing against the follower |60. The follower is carried by the lever |58 which is pivotally mounted as at |6I, and the cam |59 is driven in timed relation with the machine by gearing generally indicated at |62. A spring |63 urges the mechanism to the position shown. The lever |56 has a pivoted connection I 63 to a link |64 pivotally mounted at its upper end to a member |65 which is pivoted at |66, and has a portion |61 extending completely across the mouth of the chute |50.

From the arrangement thus described, the cam |59 will cause oscillation of the members |54 and |61 back and forth from their positions as seen in Figure 13 to those of Figure 14 in timed relation with other functions of the machine.

With the parts in the position of Figure 13 the iinally closed cartons, one of which is indicated at M, will be ejected as follows: As the cage carrying the carton M passes by the segregator |50, the cam plate |45 engages the roller |44 and moves the upper assembly of retainer arms ||2 to the neutral position as described, and as shown in Figure 6. Just as this movement is completed the cam plate |46 engages the roller |44V of the lower assembly of retainer arms I I3 and rapidly moves them to the ejecting position shown in Figure 7. This action kicks the container outward from the bottom as indicated by the broken lines Ml, the upper end of the carton being restrained from tipping by the member |61. The carton will then fall downward by gravity, and with the shutter |54 in the position shown, will be directed into the chute or channel |53 beneath which chute may be arranged a conveyor or other means indicated at |10 upon which the package will be received for disposition as desired. It will be received with the same end up as it had when in the cage.

Referring now to Figure 14, where'the memtons, one of which is indicated at N, will bev ejected as follows: as the cage carrying the carton passes the segregator |30 the cam plate |43 ,will engage the roller |21 and move the lower assembly of retainer arms I I3 to the neutral position of Figure 6. Just as this movement is completed the cam plate |42 engages the roller |21 of the upper assembly of retainer arms ||2 and rapidly moves them to the ejecting position shown in Figure '1.r This action kicks the empty container outward from the upper end as indicated by the broken lines NI, the carton pivoting at its lower end about a bar |1| which may be ilxedly mounted across the mouth ofthe segregator, and suitably located to obstruct the movement of the lower end of the empty cartons, which empty cartons will have unfolded and downwardly extending end flaps which contact the bar. Thus the empty cartons will pivot about the bar |1|` as they are ejected from the cages and vwill be turned end for end as at N2, whereafter they will fall by gravity throughv the chute |32 and onto a conveyor belt |12 to becarried tov a lling machine if desired.

Figure l1 shows the proille of the cams |43 and |45, each of which have an inclined surface or rise |13 to engage the cam rollers as at |14 and move them to the position indicated at |13 which movement of the roller causes the retaining arms to be moved to the neutral position I shown in Figure 6.

Figure 12 shows the.proflle of the cams |42 and |46, each of which have a gradual rise to engage the rollers as at |11 and move them to the position indicated at |13. at which position of the rollers the retaining arms will be in In Figures 8 and 9, we have illustrated a mal chine comprising the improved'cages with integrally associated spreading devices. As in the y,machine of Figures 1 and 2, a conveyor chain 4 the neutral position shown in Figure 6. Thereafter the rise |19 rapidly moves the rollers to thel position indicated at |30, thus throwing the arms to the ejecting position of Figure 7.

It will be apparent how the platform member ||4 acts as a gauge for the packages having one end closed, the closed lower end resting upon the platform. In Figure 10 we have shown how thel platform also serves as a gauge for the initially squared up but unclosed cartons. As shown, the rear wall of the carton body 30 rests upon the member H4. and the extending portion of the liner Sla being of relatively flexible material. will be deformed as shownthus permitting retention of the carton in predetermined relation to the top sealing and folding devices of the machine.

In regard to the cages just describedrit is to be pointed out that the trigger action thereof is important, that is, the fact that the insertion or introduction of a package automatically closes the cage. This movement being actuated by the introduction of the package itself. Y.

It is also to be pointed out that the cage is adapted to either the open carton or the package having one end closed. In either case the gauge effect is provided so that either end of the carton can be sealed.

It is further to be pointed out that the fingers of the cage, not only by their shape but by their inherent mechanical spread in open position, make it particularly easy to'insert a package.

It is finally to be pointed out in regard to these cages that they are adapted not only to the particular functions described in this application. but have many other uses and applications and can be used in conjunction with spreading devices for the liner or not, as desired.

operates about sprockets 2 and 3 to carry a series of 4blocks 1b about the machine. Y f Each oi'4 the blocks has pivotally mounted thereon a turret assembly consisting of a gear |0b and a square plate IIb, the standards ||0 and of the cages being fixed to the plates IIb. At P is shown a container which is ready for final closure, its lower end having been previously sealed and folded rests upon the platform or gauge member 4 to bring the extending upper end of the liner 3| into proper alignment with the sealing and folding devices. At the position shown the ngers |01 and |04 of the spreading device descendl intothe liner mouth, the movement of the fingers being controlled by the cam element 200 engaging the roller |06. At Q the extending liner 3| has been elongated and flattened by thespreading actionZ of fingers |01 and |00. As the carton i's conveyed to the left the cam element 20| will cause the fingers to be withdrawn from the liner. but the liner will be retained in its flattened condition by the guide bars 203 and 204. It may be noted that the carton at Q is in the stage of initial closure, the lower unclosed end of the carton restingA on the gauge I4, as described in conjunction with Figure 10.

As the carton travels to the position R the bar 205 may engage the upper margin of the liner 3| and fold it downward. With furtherl travel ofthe carton the folded portion of the liner may pass between electrical heating elements indi-l cated at 206, whereafter-and as the carton apl proaches the position S, the pressure rollers 201 and 208 will engage the liner to ail'ect sealing of the heated portion, the rollers 201 and 200 *being driven in timed relation with thecarton travel and having a resilient mounting, whereby dependable pressure between the rolls is assured. Thereafter the sealed and upstanding mouth of .the liner will be engaged by a curved plate 200 arranged to fold or turn the mouth downwardly.

At T the carton passes about the left side ofV completed as the carton arrives at position V,

whereafter an overhead plate 2|4, which is cut away as at 2|5 and is continued at 2|4, bears against the folded members to retain them in position while the rack 2|1 causes the carton to again Ibe rotated through a quarter revolution. plate 2|4 is cut away as at 2|6 to provlde'clearance for the path of travel of the brackets |02 as the carton carrying assemblies are revolved. The brackets |02 are those which support the spreading devices of Figure 4.

As the carton approaches the position W. an arrangement of folding bars generally indicated at 2|3, engage the end closure flap 34 and fold same to its final folded position, whereafter and in the further course of travel, a rack 2|3 again rotates the carrier assembly through a quarter revolution. Thus at position X the end closure The is completed, but we prefer to pass the carton beneath a ilnal pressure means as indicated by the roller 220, to insure complete closure of the end members. After passing beneath the pressure roller 220. the carrier assembly will be again rotated through a. quarter revolution by virtue of the rack 22|. This final rotation of the carrier assembly will return 'it to its original relation relative to direction of travel, as will be required for ejection of the carton and for reloading of the carrier.

The ejection device is generally indicated at tain a carton body, said arms having extensions 222 and operates as was previously. described in conjunction with Figures 13 and 14. While passing about sprocket 2, the arms of the cages may be returned to their neutral position by a cam track indicated at 223.

It is to be pointed out that the arrangement of the overhead bars for folding and closing the carton may be identical with that described in detail in our Patent 2,277,289v and f or that reason have not been described in full detail herein.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the combination of improved devices described makes possible a machine which requires no special spacing or speed limitation of the carrier members because they are not timed to any other moving device. The advantages obtained include the self-timing features of the machine, the elimination of moving parts, and the increased speed and eiciency that is thereby accomplished. y

It will be understood that the principles disclosed herein are adapted to the sealing of projecting mouths of separate bags, as well as to the liners or liner mouth held within the carton. It will also be understood that the principles disclosed herein are adapted to folding and sealing carton iiaps of unlined cartonsas well, and it will be obvious that the cages described are an eiective means of retaining packages, whether or not they have liners.

Modifications may be made in our invention without departing from the spirit .of it. Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a packaging machine, a device for retaining erected carton bodies, including a support, means movable on said support for engaging carton bodies on their sides, certain of said means being movable to release said carton bodies, means on said machine to actuate said movable engaging means, and means operatively connected with said engaging means and located in the path of a carton body presented to said retaining means and hence actuated by the presentation of a carton body to said movable engaging means to move said -means to carton gripping position.

2. In a packaging machine, a device for retaining erected carton bodies, including a support, opposed means pivoted on said support, and movable thereon to a position for gripping carton bodies, and to a position for releasing carton bodies, means operatively connected with said last mentioned means and actuated by the presentation of a carton body for moving said last mentioned means to carton gripping position, and means on said machine for moving said opposed means to carton releasing position.-

3, In a packaging machine, a conveyor, a plurality of means on said conveyor for retaining erected carton bodies, said retaining means comprising oppositely mounted, movable, gripping arms coacting in one position to grip and recarton body.' said extensions forming means actuated by the presentation of a carton b'ody to move said opposed arms to carton gripping position, and means on said machine engaging' means operatively connected with said extensions to move said extensions to carton ejecting position.-

4. In a device for retaining erected carton bodies, a support, opposed, pivotally mounted means on said support, each'of said means including an arm adapted to lie behind a carton body, an angulariy related arm adapted to engage a wall of said carton body and a finger adapted to engage over the front of a carton body, means interconnecting said pivoted members to enforce substantially equal and opposite movement thereof, and means in connection with said interconnecting means to establish three positions of said pivoted means, an ejection position in which said first mentioned arms cause a carton body to move substantially beyond said fingers, a reception position in which said arms and fingers are so placed as to permit the presentation of a carton body to said first mentioned arms, and a third position in which a carton body is gripped by said arms and fingers v 5. In a device for retaining erected carton bodies, a support, opposed, pivotally mounted means on said support, each of said means including an arm adapted to lie behind a carton body, an angularly related arm adapted to engage a wall of said carton body and a finger adapted to engage over the front of a carton'body, means interconnecting said pivoted members to enforce substantially equal and opposite movement thereof, and means in connection with said interconnecting means to establish three positions of said pivoted means, an ejection position in which said first mentioned arms cause a carton body to move substantially beyond said iingers, a reception position in which said arms and iingers are so placed as to permit the presentation of a carton 4body to said first mentioned arms, and a third position in which a carton body is gripped by said arms and fingers, and means whereby said pivoted members may be moved to said several positions.

6. In a means for retaining carton bodies, supporting means, platform means on said supporting means to engage an end of a carton body to determine the longitudinal position of said carton body in said retaining means, movable iingers coacting to engage said carton body on three additiona1 walls, means for actuating said movable fingers to gripping and non-gripping position, and means for ejecting a carton body from said retaining means when said fingers are in non-gripping position, said last mentioned means comprising extensions on said lingers lying behind said carton and engaging and moving said carton body when said fingers are moved to nongripping position.

7. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein mounting carton body retaining means, and carton body retaining means on said spaced means,

`each comprising a support, oppositely mounted pivoted means on said support for engaging carton bodies on their sides, said oppositely mounted l pivoted means being arranged in spaced pairs and includingy eiectment means, and means 'on said `machinefor selectively and sequentially actuating said spaced pairs.A I

9. In a device for retaining-carton bodies, a

base, spaced supports on said base, a platform ing several positions of said arms, the lower arms `being provided with a similar link, lever, rod and latch arrangement, the interconnection between `the links.' lever and rod of each set of arms being provided with a separate cam follower, and said severaly arms bearing fingers adapted for engagelment in one position of said arms with-sides of a carton body.

10.-In a device for retaining carton bodies, a

lbase, spaced supports on said base, a platform connected to said supports for gauging the height of a carton body, spaced upper and lower arms pivoted to each of said supports and lying opposite each other, links connecting the said upper arms, a lever pivoted to one of said supports and connected to said links, a rod connected to said lever and-links and having an end passing through a pivotal retainer on one of said supports, there being a spring on said rod, and-latch means in connection with said rod for establishing several `positions of said arms, the lower arms being providedwlth a similar link,- lever, rod and latch arrangement, the interconnection between the links,

lever :and rod 'of each set of arms being provided with a separate cam follower, and said several arms'bearing ngers adapted for engagement in `one position of saidarms with sides of a carton body, and the lever for the lower set of arms bearing a second cam follower.

11. In a device for retaining carton bodies, a

base, spaced supports on said base, a platform connected to said supports for gauging the height 1of a carton body, spaced upper and lower arms pivoted-to each of said supports and lying opposite each other, links connecting the said upper arms,

`a lever pivoted to one of said supports and connected to said links, a rod connected to said lever and links and having an end passing' through a pivotal retainer on one of said supports, there being a spring on said rod, and latch means in connection with said rod for establishing several positions of said arms, the lower arms being provided with a similar link, lever, rod and latch arrangement, the interconnection between the links, lever and rod of each set of arms being provided with a yseparate cam follower, said several arms bearing fingers adapted for engagement in one position of said arms vwith sides of a carton body, and the lever for thel lower set of arms bearing a second cam follower, one set of said4 arms at least being so shaped asin one position to eject a carton body from said platform.

12. In a device for retaining carton bodies, a

base, spaced supports on said base, a platform connected to said supports forgauging the height of a carton body, spaced upper and lower arms pivoted to each of said supports and lying opposite each other, links connecting thezsaid upper arms, a lever pivoted to one of said supports and connected to said links, a rod connected to said lever and llinks and having an endpassing through a pivotal retainer on one of said supports, there being a spring on saidrod, and` latch means in connection with said rod for establishing several positions of said arms, the lower arms being provided with a similar link, lever, rod and latch arrangement, the interconnection between the links, lever and rod of each set of arms being provided with a separate cam follower, and said sev'- eral arms bearing fingers adapted for engagement in one position of said arms with sides of a carton body, and the lever for the lower set of arms bearing a second cam follower, one set ofsaid arms at least being so shaped as in one position to eject a carton body from said platform, there being on one of said supports at least stop means coacting with said levers to ilx an inward position of said arms.

13. Ina packaging machine means for conveying a series of package holding devices, and package holding devices each of whichincludes movable means to grip and release a package, and means operatively connected with said movable means for moving them to gripping from releasing positions, said last mentioned means lying in the path of presentation of a package to a package holding device so as to be actuated by contact with the package as presented to the package holding device.

14. .In a packaging machine, means for conveying a Series of devices for holdingerected cartons upon which operations are to be performed, each such device having opposed angular pivoted arms for engaging an erected carton body in one position, said arms being movable on their pivots to a carton releasing position, dead center mechanism for holding said arms in said two positions, and opposed extentions on said arms and movable therewith into the space between said arms when said arms are moved to releasing position, so that when a carton body is presented to said device, brought against said extensions and moved to a position between said arms, said extensions will move said arms past dead center to carton engaging position.

SAMUEL BERGSTEIN. LOUIS J, VAN GUELPEN.

REFERENCES CITED j The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

